Portable drawing board and the like



v July L20, 1926-,

I c; FLACH PORTABLE DRAWING BOARD AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 23, 192.4

Patented July 20, 1926.

CHARLES FLASH, or Barents, swrrznnnnnn.

PORTABLE DRAWING BOARD AND THE LIKE.

Application filed October 23, 19%, Serial No.

The subject of this invention is a de- .viee for supporting a board for drawing, painting, writing and reading purposes in the position in which it is used.

The device according to the present invention enables the sketcher and painter to do without an easel and leaves his hands free "for work. For the writer and reader .it-provides a light and conveniently portable desk. In all cases, in which a person has no conveniently available support to work on, as for instance the soldier or surveyor when making sketch maps or the patient in bed and the like, the new device may be used with advantage.

According to the invention the device comprises a flexible supporting means adapted to be placed on the back and shoulders of the user and provided with twoloops for the reception of the board or the like.

The accompanying drawings illustrate several constructional examples of the invention,

Fig. 1 being a general view of one example, showing the device in use,

Fig. 2 a front view and Fig. 3 a side View of a board,

Fig. 4 a diagrammatic view of the flexible supporting member of the supporting devlce.

Fig. 5 a diagrammatic view of a further constructional form of the supporting device.

In the example shown in Figs. 1 to i a is t e board, for instance a drawing board or the like, At the corners or" the board knobs b are provided, around which the loops 0 of a flexible endless supporting member in the form of the figure 8, for instance a cord, are passed. When the supporting device is in use, the supporting member lies on the back and the shoulders of the user. The cord is passed through a double eye d in such a manner that one part of the cord is passed through one part of the eye and the other part of the cord through the other part of the eye. By sliding the double eye cl upwards or downwards on the back, either by hand or by suitably inclining the body, the board can be given a greater or smaller inclination when in use. At one point the supporting member is cut and one end of the cord is formed into a loop 6. The other end of the cord is slip- 745.,4l80, and in Switzerland November 6, 1923.

ped through this loop and formed into a double loop 6 through which the cord runs adjustab y. By tightening the cord in the double loop 6 the 8 shaped supporting member can beshortened or lengthened to suit the person using the device.

When the device is tobe used for painting, drawing, writing, reading or the like, the user passes the loops 0 of the supporting member round the knobs b on the board a, places himselfbetween the board and that part of the supporting member provided with the double eyed and slides his arms through the open loops 0, c of the supporting member. the double eye d on the back and over the shoulders of the user, while the loops to the left and right'will carry the board. By adjusting the cord ends 6 and 6 the distance of the board from the eye may be regulated, While through suitably sliding the .double eye d. the inclination of the board may be fixed.

The latter will then lie with a The ledge f along the edge of the board A nearest the user prevents the drawing implements or the like "from slipping off the board.

It the user Wishes to use the board, when sitting, the position of the board may be still further secured by suspending the looped ends 9 of another cord h to the knobs b at the edge of the board nearest the user and by passing the loop of cord thus formed under the feet. By this means it is possible absolutely to secure the board from slipping at any point on the thighs of the user, which however does not prevent the board being given any desired inclination.

The cord it may also be provided with an arrangement for adjusting its length to suit the size of the user.

The device according to the present invention enables the user to work conveniently in all cases where there is no means for resting the board, as for instance in sketching from nature, either in the open, in the studio, from a model or in the Work-shop, more particularly where the object to be sketched changes its distance from the person sketching it, as for instance in the case of animals, where it is possible to follow the animal without the inconvenience of having to move an easel and the like.

In the example shown in Fig. 5, the parts in such a manner that through one part of the eye a straight part of the cord connectin the loops 0 is drawn and through the other part of the eye the other straight. piece of the cord connecting the two loops or The effect of sliding the double eye J is the same as in the former example It will readily be understood that by means of clamps: or by a suitable modification of the board, painting or drawing utensils may be fixed to the. same.

The knobs B- may be replaced by rollers or notches may be provided at the edges oi the board.

Both loops of: the supporting member might be provided with means tor varying the length of the loop.

The drawing board. may be. replaced by any other support, snchas a portfolio, the frame or a canvas: or the like.

The device described above is oil: particular advantage to the painter in oils, as it enables: him without an easel to fix: canvases of practically all ordinary dimensions to his base board. in such. a manner that there is no danger of: their tilting over.

What I claim is 1. A supporting device for drawing, painting, Writing and reading purposes in cluding a base, knobs provided at the corners of the. base, an endless flexible supporting member adapted to be placed around the back and shoulders of the user and having two separate loops each of which is adapted to inovabl'y support two of the? said knobs of the base. and a connecting member holding the loops together in one place, the base" being supported in the closed loops to take up diiierent' inclinations.

2. A supporting device of the character described including a base, knobs at the corners of the base, an endless flexible supporting member of variable effective length, adapted to be placed around the back and shoulders of the user and having two separate loops each of which is adapted to movably support two of the said knobs of the base and a connecting member holding the loops together in one place, the base being supported in the closed loops to take up diflerent inclinations.

3'. A supporting device of the character described, including a base, lizno'bs at the corners of; the base, an endless flexible supporting member adapted to be placed around the back and shoulders of the user and having two separate loops each of which is adapted to movably support two of the said knobs of the base and a double eye holding the loops together one place in the form of a figure 8' and causing the inclination of the base to be varied when being slid.

i. A supporting device of the character described including a base, knobs at the corners of the base, an endless flexible supporting member adapted to be placed around the back and shoulders of the user and having two separate loops each of which is adapted to movably support two of the said knobs of the base, a connecting member holding the loops together in one place, the base being supported in the closed loops to take up different inclinations and a tension member adapted to be suspended from the knobs at the edge of the base nearest the user and to be passed under the feet of the latter, for the purpose of securing the base in its position.

In testimony whereof I have aifixed' my signature.

CHARLES FLACH. 

